X Agrees to Update Verification Rules in the EU

X has agreed to revise its verification system in Europe following pressure from the European Commission under the Digital Services Act. The move comes after the Commission raised concerns that X’s paid blue checkmarks may mislead users about the status and credibility of verified accounts. X has submitted proposed remedies, but the final version of the changes is still under discussion.

In December, the Commission fined X about €127 million for several DSA transparency violations, including issues linked to verification. Regulators found that allowing any user to purchase a blue checkmark blurred the meaning of verification and could falsely suggest that such accounts are official, authentic, or endorsed. This conflicted with the long-standing understanding of verification under Twitter’s previous system.

While Elon Musk publicly criticized the fine, X has since taken a more pragmatic stance. To avoid further penalties, the platform has signaled its willingness to adjust verification criteria within the EU. This may involve clearer distinctions between paid subscribers and accounts that have undergone identity or authority checks.

Although details remain limited, the likely outcome is a multi-tier verification model that restores clarity for users and meets EU transparency standards. If extended beyond Europe, such changes could influence verification practices across the industry, including comparable subscription-based models used by other major platforms.